Nelle Harper Lee is an American writer known for her 1960-pulitzer-prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that were observed by the writer as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. Despite being Lee's only released book, it led to Lee being prized the Presidential Medal of Freedom of the United States for her contribution to literature in 2007. Lee has also been the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, but has always declined to make a speech.
Other significant contributions of Lee include assisting her close friend, Truman Capote, in his research for the book In Cold Blood.
(Harper Lee photo #2)
Nelle Harper Lee started life in Monroeville, Alabama, the youngest of four children of Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee. Her mother's maiden name was Finch. Her dad, a former newspaper editor and proprietor, was a lawyer who served in the Alabama State Legislature from 1926 to 1938. As a child, Lee was a tomboy and a precocious reader, and was best friends with her schoolmate and neighbor, the young Truman Capote.
(Harper Lee photo #3)
While enrolled at Monroe County university, Lee developed an interest in English literature. After graduating in 1944, she went to the all-female Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Lee stood apart from the other students she could not have cared less about fashion, makeup, or dating. Instead, she focused on her studies and on her composing. Lee was a member of the literary honor society and the glee club.
Harper Lee
